INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Robert Stephenson struck out a career-best 12 batters for the Louisville Bats and held the Indianapolis Indians scoreless through the first six innings to help propel his team to 5-2 victory on Thursday night at Victory Park.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Robert Stephenson struck out a career-best 12 batters for the Louisville Bats and held the Indianapolis Indians scoreless through the first six innings to help propel his team to 5-2 victory on Thursday night at Victory Park.
Stephenson (8-6, 3.35), who had struck out 11 batters four times prior in his career, got the win after giving up just two hits to go along with the 12 strikeouts on 96 pitches (62 strikes) in six innings of work. The right-handed pitcher is the first Bat to ring up 12 batters since Keyvius Sampson did the same on June 2, 2016 in a game against Toledo at Louisville Slugger Field.
The Bats offense gave their pitcher an early lead to work with when Phillip Ervin smoked his third home run of the season in the first inning. Ervin again helped to add to the lead in the third when he singled home Blake Trahan. Gabriel Guerrero and D.J. Peterson went for back-to-back doubles in the inning as well to add three more runs. Guerrero's double cleared the pair of Ervin and Hernan Iribarren from the bases, while Peterson's two-bagger scored Guerrero to give Louisville the 5-0 advantage after three.
Following Stephenson's exit after the sixth, the Indians took advantage of Louisville reliever Wandy Peralta (1-0, 5.68) and loaded the bases before a single by Adam Frazier plated two runs to pull the home team within three runs at 5-2. Peralta worked two-thirds of the inning before giving up the ball to Austin Brice (0-0, 4.05) who got the final out of the inning. Brice worked the eighth frame as well before Kevin Quackenbush (0-0, 0.34) closed out the ninth. Quackenbush, who is the reigning International League Pitcher of the Week and is an IL All-Star, picked up his 13th save of 2018 season.
The quartet of Stephenson, Peralta Brice, and Quackenbush combined to strikeout 18 opposing batters. That's the most strikeouts for the Louisville pitching staff in a single game this season and topped the previous best of 16 which was set in a 6-4 win at Durham on May 17.
Indianapolis starting pitcher Mitch Keller (0-1, 13.50) was tagged with the loss after tossing six innings and surrendering five runs on six hits.
The Bats return home on Friday for a matchup with IL West Division foe Toledo. The Mud Hens come to town for a three-game weekend series at Louisville Slugger Field. Left-handed pitcher Justin Nicolino (3-5, 5.14) is scheduled to climb the hill for Louisville while Toledo has yet to name a starting pitcher. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
